A person who contaminated treats with tranquilliser and provided them to minors at a summer program in Leicestershire has confessed to sexual crimes against two boys both nine and ten years old.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and one adult experienced illness at the facility in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from that region, pleaded guilty to a multiple criminal counts when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Yet, he disputed a single sexual charge he was charged with, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
The legal representative, prosecuting, described the defendant's actions to the judicial body.
She stated his victims were disadvantaged youngsters who were participating in a youth camp which he ran.
The man played a "candy game" with the children, the prosecutor said, in which he would go into the boys' rooms when they were preparing to sleep and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the young males "for many years", and children had earlier experienced illness the subsequent day.
She stated the man had been capable of justifying this for many years as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in summer 2025.
Mrs Prior KC added: "In the summer" his family member had suspicions about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to have a look in the man's possessions."
The legal counsel stated items including lubricant, Vaseline and syringes were found, and his family member notified the authorities about his worries.
She said Ruben continued to engage in the "candy game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were all ill the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that time," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
Mrs Prior explained the children were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the family member notified the law enforcement once more.
She explained Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five youngsters.
